Jewellery: More than Adornment - Taster Lecture

Online course

+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Thinking about an online course? Join V&A Academy course director Beatriz Chadour-Sampson for a free, live online lecture to learn more about V&A’s extensive jewellery collection and why, from its early beginnings, jewellery accompanies the wearer, men, women and children, through life from cradle to grave. Jewels are more than simply adornment, they are worn as symbols of status, a sign of authority and distinction, symbols of faith, protective amulets, and personal to the wearer jewels express devotion, love, grief and hope.

Get to know the V&A Academy learning platform when you join the taster lecture. You will receive your link 24 hours before the event, as well as a link to the recording afterwards, so that you can enjoy watching the lecture on demand. 

Ready to learn more? Join Beatriz to discover the mystery and magic of pearls on our new on-demand course. Or, dive deep into the world of jewellery with Beatriz and other experts from around the world on our revelatory 12-week course A History of Jewellery. Live lectures, Q&A and yours-to-keep jewellery resources starting Tuesday 29 April, then available on-demand till October 2025.
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Portrait of V&A Academy Course Director Dr. Beatriz Chadour-Sampson

V&A Academy Course Director
Dr. Beatriz Chadour-Sampson

Beatriz Chadour-Sampson is an international jewellery historian, author and lecturer. She was consultant curator to the redesigning of the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery and guest curator of the ‘Pearls’ exhibition at the V&A. Today she is the curator of the Alice and Louis Koch Collection, now in the Swiss National Museum.

Fascinating and insightful… so much more than can be read in a book! V&A Academy Online Learner
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Online course: Jewellery: More than Adornment - Taster Lecture

7 March 2025

Free

Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:

+44 (0)20 7942 2000

Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)

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Header image: A round brooch of enamelled gold, set with table-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Maker unknown. ca. 1610-1620, Prague. Museum Nr. M.461-1936